The Best Hiking Trails in Jasper National Park

This canyon is a true oddity for the Canadian Rockies. It’s a slot canyon cut sharply into limestone––a much different form than the broad glacial valleys where you’ll typically find flowing water....

On this trail you can walk right up to the edge of the ice where the Athabasca Glacier ends. This glacier is one of several that originates in the massive Columbia Icefield, which lies in the mountains above....

This loop is especially good in autumn when the leaves change color, and when slow alights on surrounding mountains. At any time of year, however, it’s a nice stroll through the forest that includes an incredible view....

This is an easily accessible and easily doable hike close to the town of Jasper and the campgrounds. It’s a great hike for families or anyone seeking a casual stroll in nature....

Sunwapta Falls is a popular stop along the Icefields Parkway, the road between Banff and Jasper National Parks. Here, the Sunwapta River funnels through some narrow gorges on its way to join the Athabasca River....

If you're looking for a short but stunning hike in Jasper National Park, then the Edge of the World Trail needs to be on your list. This short one-kilometer out-and-back runs along the side of an elevated ridge and along the top of a series of cliffs below Marmot Peak, located just off Marmot Road....

Jacques Lake makes a good beginner-level backpacking trip, with a relatively easy hike passing a handful of lakes, and a nice [backcountry campground](https://reservation.pc.gc.ca/JasperNationalParkofCanada/BackcountryCampsites) near Jacques Lake. It has a relatively long season for hiking, usually passable in early June and well into October because of its low elevation and mild gradient....

This is a popular hike that starts from Maligne Lake and gets way above the trees for some epic views. Beginning on a fire road in thick forest, it isn’t very interesting at first, but keep going and eventually you’ll get to a huge panorama The fire road goes all the way to the ridgeline before turning to a trail, but there’s an opportunity to shorten the uneventful walk on this dirt road by taking a steep trail that goes directly to the ridgeline....

Pyramid Lake is the name for the larger lake near Jasper, at the very bottom of Pyramid Mountain. The lake reached on this hike is different. It's a tarn tucked into a narrow basin on the mountain's north side....

This is the short hike that reaches Whistlers Peak, beginning from the Summit Restaurant at the top of the tram. If you ride the Jasper SkyTram but don’t hike to the real summit, you are missing out on the full experience! It’s a moderate uphill on a well-defined trail, in a dramatic alpine setting far above treeline, with a horizon of mountains in all directions....

Not as popular as the nearby Bald Hills, this alternate hike near Maligne Lake finds a hidden valley high in the mountains, where gently forest fades to meadows and then to barren slopes....

From Four Point campground, which is a lovely spot beside the Brazeau River, the Brazeau Loop route continues down the valley. It more or less follows the river all the way to Brazeau Lake, which is one of the largest backcountry lakes in Jasper National Park....

This day is almost all uphill, but a gradual climb for the most part. From Brazeau Lake, the trail leaves the shoreline and takes a wide berth around the lake’s southern end....

This is an extension of Path of the Glacier Trail at Mount Edith Cavell. Leaving the paved path, you’ll walk on a steeper, but not too difficult, trail that leads higher into the valley....

After a number of challenging days to reach Jonas Cutoff, this is a good opportunity to get some rest before the final hike to Jasper. This trail is entirely below the treeline, but there are some good openings in the trees which have great views as you make your way towards Pobokton....

Skyline Trail is one of the best backpacking routes in Canada. It is the highest-elevation trail in Jasper National park. Roughly 27 of its 44 kilometers are above treeline, granting huge views over the Rocky Mountains and a truly alpine experience....

Tonquin Valley is a 2-4 day trek in the Jasper backcountry that finds some of the most incredible alpine scenery imaginable--huge blue pools of Amethyst Lakes set beneath the glaciated pinnacles of The Rampart Range, in a valley studded with wildflowers and teeming with wildlife....

The best option for a hike out of [Coronet Creek Campground](https://fatmap.com/routeid/1956744/maligne-lake:-fisherman's-bay-to-coronet-creek) on Maligne lake is simply up the creek. You can get far into the backcountry, even without any official trails....

The Jasper SkyTram takes paying passengers to the Summit Restaurant on Whistlers Peak, but the free alternative is hiking the trail from the bottom. The benefits are a great workout and truly earning your views at the top, and you can still enjoy a meal or drink at the restaurant once you reach it....

Geraldine Lakes is an often-overlooked hike, despite its proximity to the Icefields Parkway and Athabasca Falls. This narrow and steep valley has a string of four lakes. The first is fairly easy to reach, on a good trail, but the second is more scenic, and getting there requires more work....